North Korea opens second internet connection via Russia

In a move that cybersecurity experts believe could give Pyongyang greater capability to conduct cyber attacks, Russian state-owned company TransTeleCom has provided a new internet connection to Kim Jong Un’s regime. In a brief statement, TransTeleCom said that it has telecommunications links with North Korea under a deal signed in 2009 but refused to elaborate. The new connection was revealed by North Korea monitoring project 38 North and cybersecurity experts too confirmed the new Russian link. Experts believe that the move strengthens North Korea’s cybersecurity capabilities at a time of heightened tensions with the U.S. and also reduces its reliance on China. More importantly, the new internet connection boosts North Korea’s cybersecurity strength. Bryce Boland, a cybersecurity expert with FireEye said, “By increasing the number of internet connections in and out of the country, it increases its resilience to attacks”. Over the weekend, the U.S. Cyber Command carried out an operation attacking hackers affiliated with North Korea’s military spy agency. Now, cybersecurity experts claim that with Russia involved in North Korea’s internet, things could get more complicated.